Adopt a furry little companion, page 17! Vol. 3,Vol. No. 12, 11 No. 21 Published Every Published Other Wednesday Every Other Wednesday Established 2007 July 17 – July March 30, 2019 10 - 23, 2010 Presenting Alyssa Mendoza with the Audrey Woodburn Scholarship were CMHS Senior On Wednesday, July 10th, the VP of Operations Adam Thunell, Dr. James Ventura Botanical Gardens dedicated Woodburn II, and Junior Volunteer Chair The winners of the Ventura County Fair poster contest were unveiled by James the Schwab Entrance Plaza to honor Marilyn Beal. Lockwood on July 8 at a presentation at the fairgrounds. The theme of the fair is “A the memory of the late Miriam Country Fair with Ocean Air.” Schwab and her longstanding support CMH The design by Daríanna Vásquez, 18, of Santa Paula, earned her first place. Her and philanthropy for the Garden and work will appear on the fair’s poster and other fair materials. the Arts in Ventura. Auxiliary Hannah Ellsberry, 17, of Camarillo, took second place and Jorja Garcia, 14, of Music was performed by the Oxnard, received third place. They were chosen from 58 entrees. Miriam and Henry Schwab Academy honors junior The 144th Ventura County Fair runs July 31 to Aug. 11. of Music, Ventura College. volunteer Photos by Bernie Goldstein. Photo by Michael Gordon. scholarship by Union Bank and La M 103.7, raises money for the dancer’s favorite charities. recipients “’Dancing with Our Community Each year in June, the Community Stars’ is one of the most anticipat- Memorial Hospital Auxiliary honors its ed events of the festival,” says Kellie graduating Junior Volunteers as they Meehan, festival executive director. “Our finish their high school careers and competitors give it everything they’ve prepare for their futures. On June 10, got to wow the crowd, and all will raising Auxiliary members, hospital leaders and money for wonderful local causes.” proud parents gathered to honor two Who’s competing? special Junior Volunteers with scholar- Victor Rodriguez, dances with his ships for their continued education. instructor Yesenia Peña, for Cabrillo Alyssa Mendoza was awarded Economic Development Corporation, the Audrey Woodburn Scholarship a nonprofit where he sits on the board. for $1,500. Alyssa became a Junior Victor Rodriguez, Yesenia Peña, Dr. Marlene Batista, Marco Aguilar, Sommer Frisk, Erika Rodriguez, an immigrant whose family Volunteer in June, 2016, and served Martin, Jesus Garcia, Diana Terre and Ben Escobar. Ernesto Martinez, Salena Bracamontes, settled in the Cabrillo Village farmwork- in the CMH Gift Shop and Maternal Veronica De La Cruz and Adan De La Torre are ready to dance. er community in Saticoy, is passionate Child Health department. Over the last about providing affordable housing and Sustainability Now News three years, Alyssa accumulated over assists with the organization’s mission 550 hours of service to the hospital. providing comprehensive housing Her commitment to the patients and Community Leaders dance for services and community economic de- community earned her second place velopment activities for individuals and for Community Service at Foothill Annual Oxnard Salsa Festival families most lacking in opportunity in Technology High School. Alyssa plans Ventura County. by Maryann Ridini Spencer to continue her education at Ventura Veronica De La Cruz, a sales manager (@MaryannRidiniSpencer) College and major in Nursing Science. for Union Bank, dances with instructor Trinity Durborow received the Maria In the vein of the hit television series, community leaders paired with local top Adan De La Torre for Clean Interna- Cavallo Scholarship for $3,000. Trinity “Dancing with the Stars,” on Sunday, dance instructors will compete in the tional, an organization dedicated to has been a Junior Volunteer in the CMH July 28 at 1:00 pm during the 26th “2019 Dancing with Our Community ensuring that every person around the Gift Shop since June 2017 and has given Annual Oxnard Salsa Festival presented Stars Dance Contest and Charity Fund- world has access to sustainable clean Continued on page 23 by the Oxnard Downtowners, seven raiser.” The salsa competition, sponsored Continued on page 17 2 July 17 – July 30, 2019 Ventura BREEZE Business Award winning clothing stylist Deborah Yahner has opened an upscale resale boutique Ikat and Pearls Boutique. A Ventura Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting was recently held. 40 South California Street (805) 448-9526. Photo by Michael Gordon. Ventura to support, attend and take New group part in their productions. “We are looking for people to join our merry invites the band of players.” Their first offering, a gen- der-bending take on Oscar Wilde’s community “The Importance of Being Earnest,” just completed its run at the NAMBA to participate center in downtown Ventura. A unique interpretation: some of the by Jill Forman characters changed gender in the Laura Covault and Layla Perez are second act, couples re-assorted, and the founders and co-owners of this it all came to a riotous happy ending. new theater company, Unity Theatre Tea was served to the audience at Collective and hope to inspire small tables, and the actors brought Ventura BREEZE July 17 – July 30, 2019 3 City News audience members into the pro- from community members. duction by chatting with them and They feel fortunate to be involved running through the area. The troupe in the educational aspect of theater. of young players brought energy Covault is a Professor of Perform- and novelty to their portrayals, and the full house (on the night I went) enjoyed it as much as the performers. Covault and Perez see this working of the play as a good way to look at gender role expectations, “… to get across messages without being preachy.” They admit laughingly to always having “big ideas” and being excited about them. They are dedicated to “…reworking traditional theater to make people rethink assumptions about gender, Laura Covault and Layla Perez are dedicated race, age, and culture.” And they to reworking traditional theater. want the citizens of Ventura to join ing Arts at CSUCI; Perez is a stage them. “Our mission is to embrace manager there. Perez works at Salzers, the community, for them to be a part which she says helped inspire her. of our company: act, write, be techni- They initially raised money with cians, give us ideas, bring forth issues one-night presentations, and with the to be addressed.” Hence the “Collec- help of friends and family generated tive” in their name. enough to put on their initial offering. When asked why they decided to They will need to fundraise again take on the difficult and quixotic and are working on plans for that. task of starting a new theater group, Also, they are planning to become there is more laughter. They feel an official nonprofit and then can Ventura is appreciative of art and cre- apply for grants. They want to create ativity and they wanted to do more to opportunity for those who would not help foster that appreciation. “There normally attend theater, who see it as is a pool of talent in the area, people elitist or too expensive – free plays? who have the ability to do theater but a touring company? coordinate with no ‘home’ to do it. We want them to local schools? Whatever will engage have the ability to put themselves more people and make them want to out there and fulfill their passion.” join in the fun and work. The core values of Unity are social Upcoming productions will change, insight, empathy; the plan be announced in the next month. is “… to be there for the community, Website: www.unitytheatrecollective. to have fun and find a way to be com. Facebook: Unity Theatre Collec- creative.” They are open to new ideas tive. Instagram: #theatreforallpeople. 4 July 17 – July 30, 2019 Ventura BREEZE Opinion/Editorial Sheldon is on vacation currents terms are up) - I think that these parks, religious institutions, day care fa- enjoying beautiful four should have quarterly townhall cilities and residential zones. Such stores Member, Ventura Chamber of Commerce Ventura. These are meetings to hear what the concerns (and will need to be at least 200’ away from a snippets from previous likes) are from their constituents. similar business. The Ventura Breeze is your free local community articles for your reading They are: Sofia Rubalcava, Deputy The new rules limits stores to three newspaper published every other Wednesday pleasure. Mayor - District 1; Lorrie Brown, Coun- areas based upon the zone. Limited In- and circulated throughout Ventura and to many Sheldon (Governor) Brown n A teenager died cilmember - District 6; Jim Friedman, dustrial (M-1), General Industrial (M-2) Publisher-Editor locations in Ojai and the Channel Islands Harbor when he was struck Councilmember - District 5; Erik and Manufacturing Planned Develop- located in Oxnard. by a train in Ventura. The incident Nasarenko, Councilmember - District 4. ment (MPD). happened on the tracks near Hurst These are their emails if you want to Even though I don’t like guns much PUBLISHER-EDITOR Avenue and Ocean Avenue, according contact them: I’m not sure limiting where stores can be Sheldon (Governor) Brown to a Union Pacific official. The 17-year- [email protected]; located serves any purpose at all. [email protected] old male from West Hills was struck by [email protected]; n During the approximately eight years PUBLISHER EMERITUS a southbound Amtrak Pacific Surfliner [email protected]; publishing the Breeze prior to Trump Staci Brown train. Authorities say that his death [email protected]. being elected president, I never have made Assistant to the PUBLISHER appears to be a suicide. If you don’t know what district you political comments regarding Democrats Ana Baker Immediately, some accused the are in, go to https://map.cityofventura.